Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Charge to Class of 2015: Share the Cookies

Last night we held commencement for the St. John's Episcopal School Class of 2015. I gave the following remarks as my charge to them:

When I had the good fortune to work with you a bit in class
last year, I asked you to write moonshot essays. I hope you recall the notion
of a moonshot vision—something really significant which others might deem
impossible, but you believe it’s how you can change the world for the better.
You had some amazing ideas, and I know you will have plenty more. In fact, we’re
kind of counting on you to do so. I want to share with you three key things
that can help you achieve a moonshot, whatever it might be. A simple chore.
Cookies. Gratitude.

#1. Every morning, first thing, make your bed. No, your
parents did not ask me to include this. You may be thinking what I thought at
your age: Why do that when I’m just going to use it tonight? Here’s the reason, the only one that ever has made sense to me.
Do that one easy thing, and you start the day with a victory. You’re 1-0, and
you can build momentum. It’s also about responsibility and discipline. And how the
little things can add up to big things.

#2. A few years ago, college researchers conducted an experiment
replicated many times over. They broke students into three-person groups. One
person was randomly appointed leader. Each group was put in a room and asked how
to solve some difficult ethical problem, such as how to eliminate cheating or
to broker world peace. Meanwhile, researchers observed them through a one-way
window.

After thirty minutes, someone brought the group four
freshly-baked cookies. Yes, four cookies for three people. Obviously each person got one cookie. But
that left one cookie just sitting there temptingly, its delectable aroma
wafting through the room. Awkward, right? Each person craving the cookie, yet pretending
he or she was happy for others to have it. But it wasn’t awkward or hard to
resolve at all. Because in almost every case, the leader grabbed the fourth
cookie and ate it. More like devoured it with lip-smacking, drool-dripping,
crumb-flying fervor. You know: in a way to emphasize who the leader was.

Now remember, this leader had been appointed randomly just 30
minutes earlier. His or her status was due entirely to luck. But evidently that
was enough to make all of them assume they deserved the cookie rather
automatically.

This ties to #3: Gratitude. I know you’re grateful to be
sitting here as new graduates of St. John’s. I want to put that in some larger
context for you—the context of luck. Without even being aware, you were
appointed leaders of the group, and it happened before you were born. Without even buying a ticket, you won the genetic lottery. Here’s how. Current world population is
just over 7.2 billion people. Just by the circumstances of birth, perhaps a
couple other twists, each of you is in the top 5% of humankind in terms of
wealth, health, security, and potential. That means out of a random group of
100 people your age, you got a big head start over 95 of them. Or, in total,
over 6.85 billion of them. Quite good odds for success. Adding to this immediate
advantage, you’ve had myriad opportunities—lessons, clubs, travel, whatever.
Foremost among them: St. John’s. And if you think about it, that St. John’s
even exists, let alone your getting to go to school here, has some luck
involved. So practice gratitude and be sure to count your lucky stars.

Of course, luck doesn’t really matter if you don’t take jump at
the opportunities it provides. You have thus far, and now you sit here, poised
for the next phase of your lives. The big question: what is that going to be? I
don’t mean summer plans or even high school. I hope St. John’s has challenged
you to think about how you’re going to take all you’ve been blessed with and go
out and make a positive impact. A successful moonshot. How you will do that is vitally
important to ponder. You will continue to be faced with the extra cookie,
probably dozens of them. At times you will earnestly believe you deserve it. Sometimes
you just may truly have earned it. But
you and the world will be better off if you make your bed, express gratitude,
and always share the cookies.

Congratulations, Class of 2015. We will miss you, and I wish the
best of luck on all your moonshots.

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St. John's Episcopal School

St. John's is a pre-k through eighth grade co-educational school dedicated to a program of academic excellence designed to train the mind, strengthen the character and enrich the spirit of each student in a Christian environment.